Gate-closer.



W. J. WILTSB.

GATE CLOSER.

APPLIGATIONJILED MAR. 29, 1912.

1,063, 1 5 1 Patented May 27,1913.

cOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0" WASHIN c,

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. WIL'ISE, OF LISBON, NORTH DAKOTA.

GATE-CLOSER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLLAM J. WILTSE, citizen of the United States, residing. at Lisbon, in the county of Ransom and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grate-Closers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gates of the class of flexible gates, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efiiciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which maybe applied without structural changes to fences of various constructions and which is also adapted for use as a gate separate from the fence or as a portion of a fence, as may be preferred.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and de scribed, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of the improved gates; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail View illustrating the location and disposition of the locking lever when the gate is open; Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detached perspective views of various forms of the lock lever brackets.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device may be employed in connection with fences constructed of various materials, and it is not desired therefore to limit the invention to fences of any particular construction, but for the purpose of illustration the improved device is shown applied to the gate opening of an ordinary wire fence, the posts at opposite sides of the gateway opening being shown respectively at 1011 of the usual construction with portions of the strand wires of the fence con nected thereto. The gate is constructed of two rigid end members 1213 and connected by a plurality of strand wires 14, the strand wires being preferably arranged substantially in alinement wit-h the strand wires of the fence. The strand wires 14 are connected at suitable intervals by stay members 15 of wood or other suitable material.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1912.

Patented May 27, 1913. Serial No. 687,205.

I Attached to the post lO near its lower end, is a relatively long link '16, while a similar link 17 is connected to the post ll-near its lower end. The links 1617 are preferably of wire of suitable strength to withstand the strains to which they will be subjected and are located relativelynear the ground, and secured respectively to the posts 1011 by staples 18-19 or othersuitable devices. Attached tothe post 11 near its upper end, is anotherlink 20 similar to the link 17 and in vertical alinement therewith and secured to thepost 11 by staples or other suitable fastening devices 21. The post 13 of the gate 1s supported in the links 1720, and retamed in vertical position thereby. The post 13 is provided with stop pins 22-23 above and below the links 17-20 which thus prevent the displacement of the post either upwardly or downwardly. The post 13 thus bears at its lower end preferably upon the ground.

Connected to the upper end of the post 10, is a bracket device represented as a whole at 24: and including eyes 2627 at its terminals to receive 'a pivot pin 28. The bracket 21 is bent or formed in L-shape to bear over the top of the post 10, and likewise against its rear face, and is secured to the post by bolts 25 or other suitable fastening devices. By this arrangement the pivot pin 28 is located in advance of the post 10 and above the upper line of the same. A

"locking lever 30 is mounted to swing upon the pivo-tpin 28 and is provided with an aperture near the pivot pin to receive an endless link 31 which engages'over the upper end of the post 12 and bears beneath a pin 32 upon the latter. By this arrangement it will be noted that when the lever 28 is moved over into its released position, or toward the gate, the link 31 is released from the post 12 and the latter can be lifted out of the link 16 and the gate moved to one side, and then when the gate is to be again fastened in position, the lower end of the post 12 is located within the link 16, and the upper link 31 placed over the post and the lever 'arm 30- thrown into its rearward position thus drawing the post 12 firmly toward the aperture in the lever through which the link 31 extends, is located below the line of the pivot 28, and thus locks the link in position and holds the gate firmly in closed position. The parts will be so proportioned that when the locking lever is actuated a relatively strong strain will be applied to the strand wires 14 of the gate, and in event of any decrease in its strain caused by constant use of the gate, the tension may be readily increased by simply shortening the various links or slightly shortening the strand wires. By forming the bracket 24 so that the pivot pin is located in advance of the post 10 it will be obvious that when the lock lever 30 is released it will hang down in front of the post out of the way and will not therefore project into the gateway opening or be located in position to interfere with the passage of teams or the like through the gate. The bracket may be readily constructed to enable the lock lever to hang close to the post when not in use as represented in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 7 the bracket 24: is shown formed of cast or malleable iron, and in Fig. 5 the bracket is shown constructed of a single piece of wire. In Fig. 4c the bracket is shown construct-ed from a single strip of metal bent at one end to form a single car, while in Fig. 6 the bracket is shown formed from a single strip of metal split at one end and bent to form coacting ears. Any of the various forms of bracket may be employed.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured and applied and without regard to the length of the gate, as gates of various lengths may be produced by simply increasing the lengths of the strand wires 14.

below the pins thereof, another link engaging around the other fence post and the adjacent end post of the gate and abovethe lower pin of the same, a bracket connected to said last mentioned fence post, a locking lever pivoted to said bracket, and a link pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage over the adjacent gate post and beneath the pin of the same.

2. In a device of the class described, a fence including posts spaced apart at opposite sides of a gate way opening, a gate within said opening and including vertical end posts, pins projecting from one of said gate posts, means for swingingly uniting the other of said gate posts to one of said fence posts, a link engaging around the other fence post and the adjacent end post of the gate and above the lower pin of the same, a bracket connected to said last mentioned fence post, a locking lever pivoted to said bracket, and a link pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage over the adjacent gate post and beneath the pin of the same.

In testimony whereof I affix-my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. WVILTSE. [n s.] Witnesses l/V. F. GRANGE, W. R. SANDAGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

